Every year I do a best of list and this year is no exception, But this time I’m gonna be straight and blunt to the point. So if your not on this list, this year, Who know as you may be on it next year. So I was in America in January and being able to see good music on a Monday and Tuesday night well Melbourne needs to take notice and start to do this. Make Monday and Tuesday nights a reason to go out and see good music.
Let’s get down to business. Albums these are the ones I loved this year.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Chasing Yesterday. Did not know he had an album coming out and I am a die heart Oasis tragic fan and boy this album delivers, What a way to open up with Riverman, his song writing is great and voice is on fire.
Kate Boy – One – This is an album I was excited about getting known Kate Akhurst for ages, yes I have interviewed her and reviewed her music in the past and this album is first rate. Higher is my favourite song off the album.
Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface – Totally love this band, these guys are genius, the music is exceptional. They just know how to mix it up and totally throw you off course with the way the album changes.
Jasmine Nelson – Hercules – Ok so she was on Parx-e Volume 4 but this album is really something special. Great song writing and great vocals ensure that this album delivers with beautiful and haunting music that you won’t forget in a hurry.
Beth Hart – Better Than Home – Beth Hart is the real deal to me as far as singer songwriters go, she got a voice and she has such killer tunes. But her songs so honest, real and you really do feel what she is saying all over this album.
I loved Emily Kinney debut album This Is War, she is amazing singer songwriter no wonder she is doing good.
EP’s And Singles
The Vaudeville Smash new song Richter Scale is divine and the b-side Dangerous wow such a song. Love the video clip for Richter Scale which they filmed in Japan. This Aussie band are going from strength to strength.
Nova and the Experience single Whole Body is an amazing tune, I got invited to their show at Shebeen and when I heard it live, I went and downloaded it straight away off Google Play. Even better for the band they got on the Aria charts, amazing for an indie Aussie act.
Laces debut ep which is self titled is amazing and I have been a fan of her music well 2004 that how long I’ve been behind her and the various projects she has done in the past. The opening track Love Me Sober ticks all the boxes for what a killer opening track should be.
Chelsea Lankes new song Home is such a good pop song, yeah I like good pop music and this is no exception. Beautiful sung and performed. Chelsea can sing, if she keeps making gems like this. The sky is the limit.
DMA’s new song Lay Down is pure brit pop and I love what these cats are doing. I can’t for the album next year.
Julia Henning – Away From Here is such a good tune and she kindly let me use it for The Parx-e Show.
Gypsy & the Cat & Client Liaison – Evolution, well I am a huge Client Liaison fan so this song is a no brainier being on this list. I just wish they would hurry up and release Hotel Stay as a single. I just wanna own a copy of the song, is that too much to ask.
Heather Longstaffe – Jack Daniels. What I can say but I love what Heather does and this song is a winner in my book. I know she is going to go far and this only helps.
Gigs
Any gig I went to in America and being able to see Jimmy Gnecco twice was awesome.
Seeing Headcat that Lemmy from Motorhead other band. Seeing Jack White for $20 American dollars was pretty cool. Seeing Powerman 5000, HED PE and Lagwagon.
Belmont Lights and Lanco two amazing bands that just blew me away and I didn’t know anything about them. Will Tucker what a blues musician he is and seeing him at BB King Club in Memphis was way cool.
The two Client Liaison gigs. I went to. I just love them
Nova & The Experience at Shebeen, what a gig.
The Women Of Soul album launch.
Passerine new single launch
